SpotterRF Radar Selected by DOD for Capability Demonstration

Feb 20, 2013

SpotterRF was one of 15 industry partners selected to participate in a Department of Defense demonstration seeking cutting edge technologies with high potential of improving the warfighter's mission effectiveness and survivability. The Stiletto Maritime Demonstration Program conducted its first capability demonstration, Jan. 14-27, 2013 for the Navy Expeditionary Combat Command (NECC) off the coast of Virginia Beach, VA.

This capability demonstration allowed SpotterRF to receive immediate feedback on the radar system as NECC Sailors observed the new technology in a realistic, military-maritime environment.

During the course of the demonstration, several scenarios were run in which vessels ranging from a jet ski to an 11 meter RHIB traveled different paths into and around the harbor. The Spotter M600C was set up remotely, on a tripod, at the mouth of the harbor, and communicated back to the Stiletto vessel one mile away via Silvias Radio. There, participants could view detections in real time on a map displaying the location, distance and speed of the target.

“The M600C was very effective at detecting all vessels coming in and out of the harbor,” said Brock Josephson, SpotterRF’s team lead for the demonstration. “The system even detected and tracked a drifting jet ski.”

An individual transported the entire system, a M600C Radar, tripod, radio and batteries in a single backpack. Set-up, and later, recovery were accomplished in a matter of minutes.

SpotterRF eliminates perimeter security gaps in maritime and harbor environments. The radar units come in four sizes, weigh as little as 1.5 lbs. each, use less energy than a light bulb (just 8W each), and can communicate with Google Earth, RaptorX, Vidsys and other situational awareness software. Training takes less than 30 minutes in the field. It can be managed by a PC, smart phone or tablet via the Internet.

Josephson added, “In the end, what this system adds to Harbor Security is a way for the warfighter to insert himself into an unknown or hostile harbor, deploy a radar and a camera or two, then head back to an off-shore ship to remotely monitor everything that comes in or goes out of the harbor.”